Students who previously attended St. Mary Magdalene-St. Justin Martyr Catholic School in Eastlake have spread out to other area schools after declining enrollment and subsequent financial trouble led to the school’s end.
But the remaining Catholic schools in the area are holding their own, in part because of taking in some of those children and adding to their own enrollment.
Mater Dei Academy and All Saints of St. John Vianney, both in Wickliffe, have seen the number of students rise as a direct result, putting them in a better situation for the future.
“It’s easy to talk about our school because there have been dramatic changes this year,” All Saints Principal Mike Fasciano said when asked how the school has been holding up. “Our enrollment increased 150 kids to just under 400 (total), largely due to the closing of St. Mary Magdalene-St. Justin Martyr.”
Prior to that school’s closing, Fasciano said All Saints also suffered from a decline in enrollment.
Mater Dei has increased its overall count by 15 percent throughout the past few years, Principal Loretta Pilla said.
St. Mary School in Chardon also grew its preschool this year, and has a waiting list for parents who want to enroll their children, said Principal Mary Petelin.
This year the school has two first-grade, third-grade and fifth-grade classes, compared to one of each grade level the previous year.
“I think we’re all holding our own here in Geauga County,” she said. “We do a number of things together like young authors, a number of teacher in-service and workshops ... I haven’t seen anybody struggling.”
Notre Dame Cathedral Latin School Principal Joe Waler is very optimistic about the school’s performance.
“It’s kind of like blue skies and sunshine. Our enrollment has been stable in recent years and that’s a huge blessing — our base of support seems to continue to grow,” he said.
The school is enjoying new facilities this year, including a new turf field, performing arts center and a new gym. NDCL is also celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Finances for those facilities came mostly from donors, as tuition, as all area Catholic school leaders have agreed, doesn’t cover the educational costs alone.
“You really can’t add those things to a building and get that from tuition, because tuition money doesn’t cover the cost of education ... nobody likes the cost of tuition in Catholic schools, but even where they are, they don’t cover the whole freight,” Waler said.
Fasciano echoed that sentiment.
“Tuition that parents pay does not foot the whole bill. All of the parishes are willing to pay that subsidy because of their conviction that Catholic education is a vital importance to our church and families,” he said.
NDCL saw an increase in student population after a nearby Catholic school in South Euclid closed a few years ago. That led to 192 students in the graduating class of 2013, which is high for the school.
This year, the school, which serves ninth through 12th grade, has about 700 students. with 182 freshman, which “bodes well.”
“I know there are challenges for all schools ... but right now we’re in a good place,” he said, referencing both Catholic and public schools.
The Diocese of Cleveland, which covers an eight-county area, has had some schools close, but overall it has seen an increase in enrollment.
“Secondary education has done well despite the overall decrease in enrollment in all schools (in the state),” said Robert Tayek, spokesman for the diocese.
There are 20 high schools within the diocese, which overall saw a 1.3 percent increase in student enrollment this year. Elementary schools in the eastern district, which includes the east side of Cleveland into Lake and Geauga counties, saw an overall decrease of 39 students, as many left a closing school, but stayed within the diocese.
“The overall health is good, but that takes into account some consolidation that’s been necessary, like the closing of St. Mary Magdalene-St. Justin Martyr (or) on the Southeast side, St. Peter Chanel in Bedford,” Tayek said. “As we try to keep the economic basis of the schools in proper order, and what we would call in the Catholic church provide good stewardship, we’ve been able to do that.”
Communities from 185 parishes have shown support to continue Catholic education, he said, noting that $175 million was pledged to the diocese in the past three years.
“We were really encouraged by that, that was straight-out support,” Tayek said.